'Long Way To Go:' East Brunswick Mayor On Derek Chauvin Verdict

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Mayor Brad Cohen released a statement Tuesday night, saying the Derek Chauvin verdict was “just the beginning” in the long road to seek criminal justice reform.

A jury found Chauvin, 45, a former Minneapolis Police Officer, guilty on all charges in the death of George Floyd.

In his statement, Cohen said that the “American experiment” has shown the capacity to grow, learn, evolve, and “bend the arc of the moral universe towards justice.”

“That is what we have seen tonight with the verdict against Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd,” said Cohen.

“This is just the beginning. What about Dante Wright, Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Pride, Breonna Taylor, Botham Jean, and so many others? We have a long way to go in order to fix a criminal justice system that is stacked against our brothers and sisters of color,” he said.

Cohen went on to say that the verdict was “not an indictment of police, law enforcement or the commitment” of the vast majority of police officers.

“All the men and women that I have had the pleasure of working with here in East Brunswick and the surrounding law enforcement units are of the highest moral character and pledge their lives for our protection,” he said.

“None of these officers condone Derek Chauvin’s behavior and they are satisfied that justice has been served.”

The mayor also took the opportunity to list ways in which the community can work together to bring about criminal justice and police reform.

“Let us all pray that this is the next chapter in how America became that more perfect union.”

To read Cohen’s entire statement, click here.